Monday, July 02, 2007

Faith

I believe a good Bible teacher not only teaches Truth, but opens doors for others to find Truth on their own. The teaching concerning Faith on Sunday mornings at the church we are attending…good stuff.
I have been working from 2:15 p.m.-12:45 a.m.; and, I worked Saturday night. When Krista woke me up Sunday, I was very slow moving and thought about sleeping in…but I am glad I went to church…even with the cobwebs in my brain.

The one thought that keeps coming to mind as I meditate on Hebrews 11, is that Faith is not something we ‘work up’ to receive stuff for ourselves. I have often heard people say something like, “If have I have enough faith, I will receive ____________” It’s mostly self-serving.

However, Faith is given so that we can do for others…it is actually given to us for works-“faith without works is dead”. While our Faith may allow us to receive from God, the focus of Faith should not be serving self, but serving others. There is so much more and I am glad that I have been taking notes…but for now…

I have been reading the first part of Hebrews 11, and I find it interesting that each one listed, acted on their faith…(you should definitely read the whole chapter, as the Faith of several of these heroes is explained.)

It leaves me doing an evaluation concerning my faith…does it propel me into proper action?

The following is an excerpt from Hebrews 11…notice the connection--By Faith, someone did something towards (or for) another, and at times the results are mentioned. Then, check out what Faith-filled people received at the end of the chapter…not exactly a life of prosperity.

2 For by it [faith] the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand…
4 ¶ By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice...
5 By faith Enoch was taken away….he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him,….
7 By faith Noah,…moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household,…
8 By faith Abraham obeyed…And he went out…not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents….
10 for he waited…

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age…

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,…
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped….
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 ¶ And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented––
38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

No comments: